At the age of 38, while his opponents of the same generation retire, Novak Djokovic still maintains top form thanks to a strict diet.
For a long time, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were the dominant trio in men’s tennis. Currently, while Federer and Nadal retire, Djokovic continues to play. He maintained a 428-week streak of holding the world No. 1 position on the ATP rankings, even when facing the top young stars of the new generation.
Djokovic achieves this toughness thanks to his physical style of play. He has repeatedly credited this achievement to a strict diet such as no milk, no gluten (a protein group found in wheat and other grains) and no refined sugar. The above nutritional regimen provides men with energy, endurance and endurance.
“It’s not the only factor in my success, but it plays an extremely important role,” Business Insider On November 17, Djokovic shared. The tennis player also emphasized that he is an advocate of each person finding a method that suits themselves, instead of having to follow a fixed rule.
Novak Djokovic. Image: Photosport
Growing up in an Italian restaurant family, Djokovic often ate a lot of gluten-containing foods. So when tests showed he was gluten intolerant, it was a “huge shock”. “Before 2009, I had never even heard of gluten,” he admits.
Besides gluten, the doctor also advised him to cut down on sugar and dairy. Djokovic said that within just 3 months of eliminating gluten, dairy and refined sugar, he felt a remarkable change and “seemed like he never wanted to go back again”.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold medalist said he has learned many beneficial things from eating clean, whole foods and learning clearly about the origin and processing of agricultural products. The tennis player also recognizes the importance of managing sleep, stress, emotions and hydration – “all of these aspects are related to the overall health and well-being of the body”.
Before changing his diet, Djokovic struggled with health issues that hindered his fitness on the court. He often has sinus congestion and has poor sleep. “I had breathing problems that affected my physical fitness on the court. I had to give up matches right from the beginning of my professional career without understanding why, because I have always been a dedicated person to practice,” the world’s No. 1 tennis player shared.
He also has pollen allergies, which make it more difficult to sleep during certain times of the year. Cutting out gluten and dairy significantly improved breathing and sleep, thereby enhancing recovery. Djokovic felt “a great source of energy and vitality” immediately afterward.
He describes it as an “upward spiral”. “When the respiratory system is not congested and the body can breathe properly, it obviously helps you receive oxygen better, improve performance on the court, increase fitness and energy, thereby leading to better quality sleep,” Djokovic shared.
The athlete emphasized that training the mental and emotional aspects of competition is “a never-ending process”. However, making the effort to learn more about himself and improve his personal relationships has directly benefited Djokovic’s athletic career.
“We are all a unified system, interconnected. We cannot separate the emotions and mental aspects from what is going on,” he said, arguing that a professional athlete cannot put aside personal problems when entering the field.
In addition, Djokovic also learned how to use mindfulness to reduce stress and take care of his mental and emotional health. “It’s really a multidisciplinary, holistic approach. I would say everything is really interconnected in terms of body, mind and soul,” he expressed.